A 21-year-old man who carried out two street attacks and a series of shoplifting offences has been jailed for three years and three months at Worcester Crown Court.

Judge Derek Stanley said John Ashton had subjected one victim to a "terrible experience" which he was unlikely to forget.

Ashton, of Bruce Road, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty to robbery, thefts and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Glyn Samuel, prosecuting, said the assault happened on the Spennells estate in Kidderminster, on October 15, 2000, 10 days previously, Ashton had confronted Roy Davies, who was 17 at the time, and said: "I've got a reputation around here. You think you are hard. Do you want a fight?"

Ashton had walked up to Mr Davies and punched him in the face, knocking him to the floor. Mr Davies claimed he had been stamped on but Ashton denied this.

Ashton had also stolen items from several Kidderminster stores. He said he wanted to sell the goods to buy drugs.

The victim of the street robbery was Ben Price, said Mr Samuel. He was walking in the Horsefair when he was he was twice hit in the face and kicked as he lay on the ground. His wallet, cigarettes and a small amount of cash was stolen.

Ashton was not just marauding the streets seeking a victim, said David Watson, defending. He knew Mr Price and there was a dispute over a debt for cigarettes. There was a background to the Spennells attack because Ashton was concerned about bullying to his younger brother, who had multiple sclerosis.

Since being in prison on remand, Ashton had detoxified himself from his heroin addiction and had the support of his family and the promise of a job when released.